Submissions for the 2020 Awards

Only books first published between 7th May 2019 – 31st May 2020 are eligible.

If the book is not currently published, but is due to be published before 31st May 2020, we accept manuscripts and proofs.

Authors can be from any country as long as the title is published in the UK (written in or translated into English).

This year The Wainwright Prize has been extended to include a second category to cover writing about global conservation and climate change.

The Wainwright Prize for UK nature writing:The book should be narrative driven with a subject that must be related to nature, the outdoors or travel writing (not guidebooks) covering Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a central theme.
The Wainwright Prize for writing on global conservation:The books in this category will reflect efforts in or, studies relating to conservation or climate change as it affects nature and the outdoors. They should be narrative driven and could be global in scope.

The prizes will be awarded to the work which best reflects Wainwright’s core values and are a celebration of the outdoors or a warning over the dangers to it across the globe. Last year’s winner was Underland by Robert Macfarlane (Hamish Hamilton).

A £5,000 prize fund will be shared and presented to the authors of the winning books.

The Wainwright Prize is awarded in association with the National Trust.

In 2020 the prize is no longer sponsored but, supported by the patronage of an anonymous benefactor.

Key Dates:
Submissions open – 20th March
Submissions close – extended until 24th April
Longlist Announcement – 5th June – World Environment Day
Shortlist Announcement – 30th July
Ceremony – 30th August

The longlists in both categories will be defined from the nominations using a combination of the views of; Independent Booksellers throughout the UK and specialist reviewers and with the assistance of a committee from The Wainwright Society.

There will be two separate and independent judging panels for both categories within the prize. Chairs and panel members to be revealed during May 2020.

Submissions are accepted from all publishers, small, independent or large and must be accompanied by a copy sent by post to:Agile Ideas
c/o WP2020
172 Winsley Road,
Bradford-on-Avon,
Wiltshire,
BA15 1NY

Each title successfully shortlisted attracts a levy to cover the promotional costs associated with the prize including; the project management, design, publicity, production & print of all the official POS material to all retailers, including The National Trust. The exact amount is still to be confirmed, but will be in line with last years shortlist levy.